Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-11-24

Ma. EnrToR In the Chronicle of the 18th
inst notice, as an editorial, a severe attack
on nv son, Henry E. Alexander. You charge
him with falsely obtaining the right to vote at
the late election, In his absence from home,
ask the privilege OF a few words in his de-
fense, on the serious charge you have made.
The facts in the case are as follows: He
graduated from Washington and Jefferson Col
lege on the 22d day OF last June. and with com
mendable energy started Immediately TO find
something to do in the work Of life. On the
advice OF newspaper gentlemen OF Pittsburgh
for whom ne has done occasional work, he went
TO Chicago and did work as a reporter. Thus
four months passed, and he returned home (at
his own expense) about the lst Of November,
as he said he would when he went away. He
WAS not on the staff OF any paper, but did re-
porter's work for one of the Chicago papers, as
opportunity offered, and was paid for what
he did. When he came away there was no en-
gagement to return nor any contract whatever;
not even did he retain his room in a boarding
house.
He was u yeavs old on the 25th of October
last, and it was natural that he should desire
to cast his first vote at home. This has been
his home since ne was few months old, and
is still his home until he finds permanent one
elsewhere He claims this as his home, has
not forfeited his citizenship by choosing one
elsewhere, is of proper age to vote, and there
fore was Justly entitled to the privilege. All
questions touching these points he answered
under oath in prompt and manly way, and the
Judges did not hesitate a moment in receiving
his vote.
Ny belief is that he had no such paper as
YOU claim he showed, and that your informant
is mistaken. | have in nv possession Il brief
note to the Chicago iailor. from the city editor
of a Chicago paper, asking bearers admission
to the Jail as a reporter. No doubt this is the
identical paper he showed, ard such a report
er's pass as he could have had from any papef
in the country 70, which he did work. This is
all there was of that.
He is under no obligation to give the minute
details of his business to any one, but do not
hesitate to la, .all the above facts before the
public, as a complete answer TO the unjust
charge made against him.
RoBT. ALEXANDER.
St. ClairsyilIe. Nov. 81, 1887.
This is a disingenuous statement. We
believe, as was the answers of young
Alexander when interrogated as TO his
right to vote. No one supposed he vas
"on the staff" of Chicago newspaper,
but the interrogatoTy was Are Mt you
in the employ of Chicago newspaper
and do MT you expect to remain there
as long as you suit yOTr employer. and
he suits you?" Is No" straightfor'
ward and "manly" answer TO that guess
tiou, in the light of the above admissions
from the father? And then, why sup
press the fact that he returned to Chi
cago Immediately after the election?
la newspaper offices in the large cities
men do not get what is termed by out
side people situation" either on the
staff or in the composing room. until
| they have served term in the office.
In the composing room such men are
termed substitutes. Frequently men
are thus employed year or more before
they get permanent employment. The
wages earned are about equal 10 those
OF the men permanently employed. Ul-
timately they get permanent employ
ment. Accepting the statement above
that upon graduating. with commenda.
bic energy [hel started Immediately to
find something to do in the work Of life.
aud the further revelations of the above
card, is it not reasonable TO conclude
that yonng Alexander, in the language
of his father when leaving home. ex>
pected to find something to do ''in the
work of life" elsewhere, and that be had
lost his residence here?
His answer &c the interrogatory quot
ed above was not only not . manly
one, but it was not such a full and true
answer as the law requires, but was an
evasion of the truth.